Video shows Hudson Valley lawmaker's panicked traffic stop

<p>A police dash cam captured Ulster County Legislator Jennifer Berky's flustered reaction to receiving a traffic ticket after she was stopped for speeding in May.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Oct 27, 2017, 4:28 PM

Updated 2,384 days ago

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A police dash cam captured Ulster County Legislator Jennifer Berky's flustered reaction to receiving a traffic ticket after she was stopped for speeding in May. 
In the video, Berky appears to be having a panic attack, claims to have PTSD, and says she was singled out by the officer. She was allegedly going 13 mph over the speed limit in a 40 mph zone. 
The 26-minute video was released by the Town of Ulster. A shortened version can be found on Live Leak. 
Berky, who is up for re-election next year, is repeatedly heard interrupting the officer, asking not to be ticketed because she's a county official.
The officer in the video is seen trying to calm Berky down, before saying he would issue a lesser ticket for a seatbelt infraction. Berky refused, saying she always wears her seatbelt. The officer then wrote her a speeding ticket.
Ulster Police Chief Kyle Berardi commended the way his officer handled the situation.
"We treat everyone the same way. Public official or not," says Berardi. 
Berky is fighting the ticket in court. She did not return News 12's calls to comment on the incident.


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